Where to buy a holiday home in Australia

Who wouldn’t want a holiday home in Australia? Somewhere to weather the British winter in a stunning Australian summer. A beachside pad near your Antipodean family. A base for when the England cricket team are touring (and a place to drown your sorrows!). A nice bit of rental income? But where should you buy a holiday home in Australia?

These destinations have the right amount of sunshine, Australian culture and investment appeal. Whether you desire a place on the beach, a city escape or a wine country experience, make sure to consider these Australian holiday home destinations as places to live and invest.

For hundreds of years Britons have been crossing the pond and settling on the shores of Australia. Lured by endless sunny days, golden sandy beaches and a relaxed pace to life, Australia has just enough in common with the UK to make the transition easy. But there are enough differences ti make it an exciting move. If you’re finally ready to up-level your life in the Land Down Under, here are our top ten holiday home destinations in Australia to consider.

Surfers and celebrities rub shoulders in one of Australia’s coolest, most bohemian towns, with some of the most beautiful beaches in the country

Byron Bay

Any conversation about desirable places to spend time in Australia has to start with Byron Bay! Surfers and celebrities rub shoulders in one of Australia’s coolest, most bohemian towns, with some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. Actually, male that the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Byron Bay has a resident population of around 10,000 but attracts nearly two million tourists per year. Located in between Brisbane and Sydney, Byron Bay is perfectly positioned as a place to enjoy the beach culture but with a city never too far away. Of course, high-demand to live there and the low supply of properties means you’re paying , expect to pay £450,000 for a two-bedroom investment unit.

Port Douglas

Tropical Port Douglas is the perfect place to buy a holiday home if you’re looking for a lazy beach-side experience. Port Douglas is a popular spot with the rich and famous, but don’t let that put you off. After all the beaches are pretty much free and the sunshine certainly is. Port Douglas maintains a laid-back Queensland charm with old colonial architecture and a distinctly alfresco lifestyle.

Nestled on the shores of the Great Barrier Reef, wake up in your holiday home in Port Douglas and you’ve got scuba diving, fishing, snorkelling and beach-combing to choose from. The closest international airport is in Cairns, 45 minutes south of Port Douglas. A two-bedroom holiday home will cost around £180,000.

Culgoa Point, Noosa River, Tropical Queensland

Noosa

Noose offers upscale living for Australians and international visitors on a prime position on the southern Queensland Coast. Just two hours from Brisbane, Noosa has the convenience of being close to a major city but encapsulates the beach-style living many people desire when moving to Australia.

But it’s not all beaches in Noosa. It’s also the perfect place to spot some iconic Australian wildlife, such as the cuddly koala or cute kangaroo. Attracting retirees from around the world, as well as a resurgence of young professionals, a Noosa address is a hot commodity. A two-bedroom holiday unit in this sunny coastal town of 50,000 people is around £270,000.

Sydney Northern Beaches

Sydney is not only exciting, energetic and full of cultural and business potential, it’s also one of the prettiest cities in the world. It attracts more expats and holiday-makers than any other place in Australia. For those that want the city escape, the Northern Beaches of Sydney provide the perfect setting. Bondi and Manly Beach are two of the most popular beaches in Sydney.

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Both beaches are within easy reach of the city. They offer a beach culture that includes surfing, oceanside boutique shopping, alfresco dining and tanned Aussies everywhere. With healthy food options and yoga studios on nearly every corner, Sydney’s Northern beaches are a highly sought-after spot. A two-bedroom holiday home in this area starts at £400,000.

Mornington Peninsula

Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is just over an hour outside of Melbourne, perfect for shooting off to on a Friday evening. It’s a scenically stunning place to own a holiday home, combining vineyards, beaches and quaint little towns. Food and wine lovers, beach bums and nature buffs will love what the Mornington Peninsula has to offer.

Most people live in the towns of Sorrento, Mornington and Rosebud. Fly into Melbourne, enjoy the city scene, and retreat to the hinterland or coast of the peninsula. Spend your days golfing, enjoying the spa, exploring the outdoors or on gourmet feasts. A two-bedroom holiday home on the Mornington Peninsula starts at £250,000.

Byron Bay

Port Douglas

Noosa

Sydney Northern Beaches

Mornington Peninsula

Hobart

Perth

Barossa Valley

Surfers Paradise

Fleurieu Peninsula

Hobart

Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, is the perfect blend of scenery, culture and entertainment. For those seeking a place with a milder climate than mainland Australia, Hobart is cooler (more similar to the UK) and experiences all four seasons. Hobart is enjoying a resurgence in popularity. It has a booming dining, arts and craft beer scene drawing new residents to the area as well as tourists. Its charming colonial downtown core makes it an enchanting city to explore by foot too. The real estate market in Hobart has seen steady growth over recent years, so expect to pay £200,000 for a two-bedroom holiday home.

Perth

Perth is a popular British expat and tourist hub making it the perfect place to purchase a holiday home in Australia. As of 2018 there is now a direct flight servicing London to Perth making it easier than ever to fly to Australia. There are so many things to love about Perth from the pristine city which is easy to get around, to the mesmerizing coastline, great shopping and surrounding hinterland.

The Perth real estate market was hit hard when Australia’s mining boom hot a hiccup in recent years. That makes it more affordable than ever to buy a holiday home in Perth. Expect to pay £220,000 for a two-bedroom holiday home in Perth’s downtown area.

Wine and countryside? You’ll enjoy holidays in the Barossa Valley

Barossa Valley

South Australia’s Barossa Valley is a world-acclaimed wine region and the perfect place for a holiday home in Australia for food and wine lovers. Not only is the Barossa Valley famous for wine, the small villages that make up the region are utterly unique. The culture and architecture are fascinating, combining with an eclectic arts scene. Holiday home prices in the Barossa Valley are more affordable than the other destinations listed above. Expect to pay £120,000 for a two-bedroom holiday home in the Barossa Valley.

Surfers Paradise

How can you resist a place called Surfers Paradise? For anyone who loves beaches and surfing all within the confines of a bustling city, Surfers Paradise is your spot. Think white sandy beaches that stretch for as far as the eye can see, consistent surf breaks offering a natural playground, and palm-tree lined promenades spilling with people.

Surfers Paradise is on Queensland’s Gold Coast. It’s the theme park capital of Australia too, so the whole family will love coming here, as well as boosting rental income. You can easily find relaxing activities such as golfing, swimming or spas. Brisbane is under an hour away making it convenient to fly in and out. A two-bedroom holiday home in Surfer’s Paradise starts around £250,000.

Fleurieu Peninsula

The last of the top ten is a hidden gem called the Fleurieu Peninsula, in South Australia. Not only does this place have some of the most remarkable beauty in the country, it is also one of the up-and-coming places for investment potential. Recent road upgrades make the Fleurieu Peninsula more accessible than ever. As a jumping off point to the touristy Kangaroo Island and with a notable surfing, food and wine scene of its own, the region is only going to attract more popularity in the years to come. A two-bedroom holiday home on the Fleurieu Peninsula starts at £100,000.

Why own a holiday home in Australia?

There are so many great locations to purchase a holiday home in Australia. It really comes down to what type of experience you are looking for. Organising a viewing trip before you purchase is a great way to experience the different places; make a short list of places you like, and then really crunch numbers and look at all the details before deciding to purchase.

As a Commonwealth Country, visiting Australia is easy and there are also multiple ways to immigrate to Australia as a skilled worker or through family sponsorship. The Immigration Australia website is an excellent place to research visa requirements and immigration processes. When it comes to buying property in Australia there are some restrictions for foreign residents. Foreign residents are, in most cases, unable to buy existing properties and pay more stamp duty (which is a form of tax that’s payable when buying a home in Australia).

If the sun and the sand are calling you and you think Australia is the place for your next holiday home investment, make sure to consider some of the idyllic and exciting places listed above.

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